Top 5 Reasons to Take Cod Liver Oil

People ask me all the time if I still take cod liver oil. The answer is yes! In this post, I cover the top 5 reasons to take cod liver oil.

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Top 5 Reasons to Take Cod Liver Oil

I have recommended cod liver oil ever since I started this blog in 2007. And then the FCLO scandal started brewing in 2012, and I stopped buying and recommending fermented cod liver oil.

1. Omega-3s Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation is at the root of most degenerative disease. Most Americans have the wrong ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats in our diet, which is one of the main causes of inflammation:

“Several sources of information suggest that human beings evolved on a diet with a ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) of approximately 1 whereas in Western diets the ratio is 15/1-16.7/1” (Source: PubMed)

In other words, we are eating 15-16 times more omega-6s than omega-3s. This is due mainly to modern industrial vegetable oils such as soybean oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, and safflower oil. Look on the label of those tortilla chips you're eating. Most likely you'll see one of these.

Improving your ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s is one of the best things you can do to improve your health. Omega-3s make up our cell membranes. They also help make hormones that regulate our blood, heart, and genes. For these reasons, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is recommended for pregnant and nursing mothers, as well as young children.

According to the Harvard School of Health, omega-3s help to “prevent heart disease and stroke, may help control lupus, eczema, and rheumatoid arthritis, and may play protective roles in cancer and other conditions.”

Cod liver oil is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Eating lots of fatty fish like salmon and sardines, and grass-fed meat and dairy also help to improve the ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s.

On a personal note, when I am taking cod liver oil and eating lots of seafood, I don't get a sunburn. In fact, on a recent trip to Hawaii, I was taking cod liver oil daily and eating seafood 2-3 times per day. Normally I get a sunburn, but on this trip I didn't even turn pink even though I was outside in a convertible or snorkeling all day long. My husband had the same experience.

You could eat seafood or take fish oil for omega-3s, but there are benefits specific to cod liver oil as I will discuss in the next two bullets.

2. Vitamin A for Immunity, Autism and Eyesight

Vitamin A also reduces oxidative stress (also known as free radical damage) which means it also reduces inflammation.

In addition to that, vitamin A is really important for immunity. In other words, it helps you fight illness. In fact, measles is not fatal for people who have adequate levels of vitamin A — and in fact, it's harder to catch diseases like measles when you get enough vitamin A. According to the World Health Organization, “In populations with high levels of malnutrition and a lack of adequate health care, up to 10% of measles cases result in death.” (Source)

Vitamin A is also critical for children on the autism spectrum. Dr. Mary Megson has reported astounding results with cod liver oil and autistic children. Watch the video below — she talks about how a non-verbal 9-year-old child got his language back within a matter of weeks with cod liver oil:

Vitamin A also helps to improve eyesight. In fact, babies with inadequate vitamin A are commonly born blind in impoverished countries. The World Health Organization says that “Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children.”

If vitamin A can prevent blindness and improve the vision of autistic children, what could it do for other people with vision problems? I have one friend who stopped wearing his reading glasses after taking cod liver oil for 6 months. Granted, that's one person (N of 1), but I'm gonna give it a shot.

3. Vitamin D for Brain Chemistry, Immunity, Healthy Bones and Teeth

Vitamin D is essential for proper neurotransmitter functioning (the “feel-good” brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine), heart health and, here it is again, protection against inflammation.

Vitamin D also helps the body utilize calcium, which helps to build healthy bones and teeth and prevent osteoporosis and cavities.

4. Prevents Heart Disease

It is common knowledge in the medical community these days that omega-3s (see above) help to prevent heart disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, “If you're worried about heart disease, eating one to two servings of fish a week could reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack.”

5. Prevents Diabetes

“People with diabetes often have high triglyceride and low HDL levels. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil can help lower triglycerides and apoproteins (markers of diabetes), and raise HDL. So eating foods or taking fish oil supplements may help people with diabetes. Another type of omega-3 fatty acid, ALA (from flaxseed, for example) may not have the same benefit as fish oil.”

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My posts may include affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link on one of my posts, I earn a small commission on the sale. I only endorse and promote companies and products I believe in. Thank you for supporting my work.